SLOCDP News
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SLOCDP Endorses Carlyn Christianson for SLO City Council
The San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party has endorsed Carlyn Christianson for San Luis Obispo City Council. The June 18th Special Election will fill a seat for the remainder of the term of former Council member, Andrew Carter, who left in February for a position as city administrator of Guadalupe.
Mike Heyl, Chair of the SLOCDP Endorsement Committee, said that Christianson was seen as the best candidate for the vacancy "because she has been a dedicated community volunteer in SLO County for 20 years and she also has deep experience in planning and land use issues."
Democratic candidates for office are reviewed by the Democratic Central Committee and voted in by a 2/3 majority vote. Christianson will receive a financial donation and other candidate support.
Pat Harris, Chair of the SLO County Democratic Party, says: "We are pleased to endorse Carlyn. She has a dynamic vision for the future of an economically sustainable San Luis Obispo. She has the support of Mayor Jan Marx and many other community leaders and we are happy to join them in promoting her election. I hope that our local Democrats will join in to help get her elected ."
If you are interested helping out, please visit the website at: carlynforcouncil.com
The Special Election will be held June 18, 2013. All votes will be mail-in and voters will receive their ballots beginning May 20, 2013.
2nd Dining With the Stars A Big Success!

SLO County Democratic Party and their guests enjoyed a gala evening at the Gardens of Avila Restaurant in the beautiful Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort on Friday, March 8th.
Over 100 guests attended the sold-out event and heard from their special guest, Dave Jones, California Insurance Commissioner. Jones is an impassioned defender of California consumers and has saved them millions of dollars by going head-to-head with big insurance companies. The Greenlining Institute gave Jones their "2012 Big Heart Award" for his work promoting insurance industry diversity.
In addition to Jones, the group heard from State Senator Bill Monning; Fiona Ma, former speaker pro tem of the California Assembly and current State Board of Equalization candidate; and the evening was masterfully emceed by California's Secretary of Natural Resources, John Laird.
The real stars of the evening, though, were the many guests who had done untold hours of volunteer work in the 2012 campaign, and ensured the major Democratic victories we enjoyed. SLOCDP honored their volunteers of the year:
Outstanding Democratic Club: Paso Robles Democratic Club
Outstanding Volunteer: Malena Maldonado
Labor Leader of the Year: Joe Gibson
Lifetime Achievement Award: Tom Rusch and Ron Sampson
Margaret Mehring Grassroots Activist Award: Walter Heath

NEWS - County, State and National
NATIONAL: The Second Inauguration of Barack Obama

COUNTY: SLOCDP Celebrates Inaugural at the Grad! 
STATE: Gov. Jerry Brown Delivers 2013 State of the State Adddress 
"This is my 11th year in the job and I have never been more excited. Two years ago, they were writing our obituary. Well it didn't happen. California is back, its budget is balanced, and we are on the move. Let's go out and get it done."
STATE: Education Week: Gov. Brown Decries Testing - "Distant Authorities Crack the Whip" 
NATIONAL: Feinstein Introduces Bill on Assault Weapons, High-Capacity Magazines 
NATIONAL: Lois Capps: These stories have been compiled by “The Dream is Now”. As a
long time supporter of the DREAM Act, which would provide undocumented young adults with a path to citizenship if they serve in the military or attend college, I wanted to share this powerful collection of stories that show why we need immigration reform.
STATE: Statement by Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom on the U.S. Supreme Court decision to hear
Prop. 8 case. Today marks the beginning of the end for a California journey that started eight years ago when San Francisco issued same-sex marriage licenses. By agreeing to hear the Proposition 8 case the U.S. Supreme Court could end, once and for all, marriage inequity in California...


